Rice planter&#39;s thumb protector



RICE PLANTERKS THUMB- PROTECTOR Filed July 12, 1948 v INVENTOR. A 077 Ma Z60 ATTD R N EYS Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to finger stalls of the type having a metal thimble held in position by a resilient sleeve, and in particular a thimble particularly adapted to be used on a thumb with a rolled rim providing a bead around the open end, a rubber sleeve having beads at both ends, and a ring adapted to secure the end of the sleeve on the end of the thimble.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for securing a metal thimble in the end of a rubber sleeve so that the thimble may be used for transplanting rice seedlings in sandy soil or soil containing gravel, grit and the like without danger of the thumb on which the thimble is worn coming in contact with the soil or being drawn from the thumb by suction as the thumb is withdrawn from the soil after forcing the roots of the seedling into the soil.

In transplanting rice seedlings in rough soil containing sand, gravel, and the like the thumb hail of the planter wears away very rapidly and for this reason it is desired to provide a thumb stall that protects the thumb nail and that does not readily Work off of the thumb.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a metallic thumb stall or thimble carried in the end of a rubber sleeve and provided with means for positively securing the thimble in the sleeve.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide positive fastening means whereby a metal thimble may be secured in the end of a sleeve adapted to fit snugly on a finger or thumb.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for positively securing a thimble in the end of a rubber sleeve in which the thimble may be manually removed and replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metal thumb stall mounted in the end of a rubber sleeve for transplanting rice seedlings, which is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the new and novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the claims appended hereto and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of the thumb stall as it appears in use with a thumb indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the thumb stall taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the thumb stall of this invention includes a 2 thimble of metal or other suitable hard or tough material and a mounting sleeve by which the thimble is secured in position on a thumb.

The thimble ii) is formed to conform to the shape of a thumb having a substantially straight back H with a bulging front l2 and the open end It is rolled forming a bead I4.

The sleeve I5 is preferably formed of rubber, or a similar resilient material, and this is formed with a small end 16 and a larger end I1, and the end It is rolled to form a bead I8 while the end i! is rolled to form a bead l9.

With the parts arranged in this manner the beaded end of the thimble I0 is inserted in the large end ll of the sleeve and a locking ring 20 is placed over the sleeve and positioned between the beads l9 and I4, as shown in Figure 2. The sleeve l5 may then be tied with a cord or the like over the bead i8 on the small end so that should the thumb stall be drawn from the thumb by suction of the mud or the like it may be retrieved by the cord.

The ring 20 positively locks the thimble in the end of the sleeve, although, it may be manually removed so that it may be replaced.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the tioned over a thumb and having a head around the open end and on the outer surface thereof, a mounting rubber sleeve having a large end and a small end with both ends rolled to form beads on the outer surface thereof, and a non-yielding ring positioned over the sleeve and thimble and between the bead at the end of the sleeve and the bead on the end of the thimble with the end of the sleeve positioned on the end of the thimble, whereby with the ring between the bead on the end of the thimble and bead on the end of the sleeve the thimble is secured in the sleeve until manually released.

LEON MATEO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 137,771 Gash and Owens Apr. 15, 1873 1,257,846 Gregory Feb. 26, 1918 1,399,870 Pearce Dec. 13, 1921 

